The Offerings of a Savior

 

Today is Good Friday and as I began my study of God's Word today, I felt as if I should reread and meditate upon the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus. But my time with the Lord began with me continuing to read through the Bible. I am on the book of Leviticus. Honestly, I had no idea that the Lord would rock my world with the book of Leviticus as I meditated upon His sacrifice for our sins. There was no way that I could pass up the opportunity to share with you what the Lord impressed upon my heart so heavily today. 

As I read Leviticus 1-2, I also studied using Warren W. Wiersbe's commentary as well. 

The book of Leviticus was written for the priests and Levites in Ancient Israel, but the spiritual principles in this book apply to Christians in the church today. The book of Leviticus is quoted over 100 times in the New Testament. The theme of the book is holiness. God doesn't just want our sacrifices, He desires our obedience to Him. "Samuel said, Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22

Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 1) were offered as a sign of devotion and dedication to the Lord. Many times in our lives we talk about "surrendering our all " or "putting it all on the altar" this indicates our willingness to give everything over to God and hold nothing back. The New Testament parallel is Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which  is good and acceptable and perfect." Leviticus 1:17b says, "it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord." Jesus held nothing back when He sacrificed His life for our sins. 

The significance of the offering is that it was always brought "before the Lord" and "unto the Lord". The phrase "a soothing aroma to the Lord" really stood out to me because it is in three verses in this chapter (vv. 9, 13, 17) and eight times in chapters 1-3, and it means "a fragrant aroma". Each of these sacrifices were pleasing to the Lord (Genesis 8:21; Leviticus 26:31). When Jesus died on the cross, His sacrifice was a "sweet smelling fragrance" to the Lord (Ephesians 5:2); and our offerings to God should follow that example (Philippians 4:18).  

     The meal or grain offering (Leviticus 2) was one way for the Jews to dedicate to God that which He had enabled them to produce. Meal offerings were always presented with a blood sacrifice. Our hard work cannot purchase salvation or earn the blessing of God; apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22 This offering represents Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:32), the Perfect One who nourishes our inner person as we worship Him and ponder His Word. This offering had to be accompanied by oil either on or mingled with, a picture of the Holy Spirit of God, who was given to Jesus without measure. "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure." John 3:34 The offering also had to include salt which speaks of our Lord's purity of character. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men." Matthew 5:13 Jesus compared Himself to a grain of wheat (John 12:23-25) and He was crushed ("fine flour") and put through the furnace of suffering that might save us from our sins. 

 Drink offering is mentioned in Numbers 15:1-13 and Leviticus 23:13, 18, and 37 but its laws are only described in Numbers. 1 quart of wine was offered after the animal sacrifice in conjunction with the grain offering. All of the offering was offered, none of it was saved or consumed. The pouring out of the wine was a symbol of life being poured out in dedication to God. On the cross, Jesus was "poured out like water" (Psalm 22:14) and "poured out His life unto death" (Isaiah 53:12).

The day that Jesus was crucified, something amazing happened in the temple. "And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'" Mark 15:37-39 Jesus was the perfect and holy sacrifice for our sins, no burnt, grain, or drink offerings had to be offered again. The old covenant ended that day.

If you type in "Why is it called Good Friday?" to search on the internet, you may find this answer:
 "Christians believe the day is "good" because the message of Easter is of Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil; as the Apostle Paul wrote "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." It is believed that, in Jesus' death on the cross, He took once and for all the sins of all mankind upon Himself, in our place. "This gift He extends to everyone who will believe in Him. Believing in the Good News of the Gospel (Jesus, son of God, who died and was raised again) is our hope." 
Praise the Lord for His obedience TO sacrifice His life for our sins. The perfect Lamb of God.